Thailand Live Friday 17 Feb 2012

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Thailand Live Friday 17 February 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news, national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Thursday 16 Feb 2012

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Interview With The Motorcycle Taxi Driver Who Tweeted Valentine's Day Bombings

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....s-day-bombings/

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Confidence of tourists will be hit by blasts: Thailand

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VALENTINE'S DAY BLASTS

Bomb expert trained Iranian suspects: Bangkok police

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Two Iranians arrested At Suvarnabhumi Airport With US$107,000 Of 'Ice'

Full story:

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Thailand boosts security after Bangkok blasts

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14 Countries Have Issued Travel Warning On Thailand: MFA

Full story:

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Top 10 Jobs Shunned By Thais

Full story:

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Report: Apple plans mini-iPad

Full story:

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BOMBS

Tuesday blast 'not linked to terrorism, Hezbollah': Thai govt figures

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POLITICS

House battle breaks out as Democrats question PM Yingluck's hotel meeting

Full story:

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SECURITY THREATS

Security tightened at Israeli Embassy in Bangkok

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Illegal building case still up in air: Soi Ruamrudee, Bangkok

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EDITORIAL

Thai officials need to wake up and admit the truth

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OVERDRIVE

Thailand Is Caught In The Midst Of A Global Power Play

Full story:

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Hundreds Of Phuket Passengers Stranded As Air Australia Goes Bust

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/534147-hundreds-of-phuket-passengers-stranded-as-air-australia-goes-bust/

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GURU SPEAK

Whistle-blowing doesn't work in Thailand?

Full story:

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Reds spokesman objects to remarks on Thida's election

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt leaders yesterday started quarrelling about Thida Thawornseth being voted in as their new chairwoman.

Key leaders Kwanchai Praipana and Chinnawat Haboonpad were very critical about Thida's selection, arguing that they and other regional leaders had been left out of the voting process.

"Everything was fixed because people from the South would only elect a fellow southerner," Kwanchai said, referring to the fact that Thida hails from the South.

Red-shirt spokesman Pipatchai Paiboon shot back, saying Kwanchai had made an unacceptable slur.

Of the 30 leaders who voted Thida in, only six hailed from the South, Pipatchai said. The six are Jatuporn Promphan, Kokaew Pikulthong, Worachai Hema, Worawuth Wichaidit, Yoswalit Chooklom and Pipatchai himself.

The spokesman said Kwanchai should not have voiced such an unfair criticism, especially since it was southerners like Natthawut Saikua who had helped him overcome his legal issues and it was Thida who had taken care of him while he was in remand.

Kwanchai had initially asked for the election to be delayed so red-shirt leaders in other parts of the country could also participate.

At a meeting of red-shirt leaders a few weeks ago, Kwanchai had suggested that the election be held after the movement's gathering in Khao Yai on February 25. However, some argued that the leader should be voted in before the event because the voting was "sacred".

-- The Nation 2012-02-17

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Joint session to debate Pheu Thai draft

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LESE MAJESTY LAW

Son goes on fast to appeal for his father

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- After completing a 112-hour hunger strike, Panitan Prueksakasemsuk yesterday petitioned for an appellate review of the bail application filed on behalf of his father and lese majeste suspect Somyos.

Panitan started his fast on Saturday near the Bangkok Criminal Court to call attention to the legal plight of his father, former editor of the magazine Voice of Thaksin, who has been held on remand since last April.

Defence lawyer Karom Polponthaklang said the lower court rejected six bail applications for Somyos, prompting the defence to ask for the appellate review for a first time.

In the appellate writ, the defence cited a comparison to the release granted red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong, who faces terrorism charges punishable by death, Karom said. Somyos is facing a lesser charge with a penalty of up to 15 years in jail, he noted.

The appellate review is expected to be completed in three days.

-- The Nation 2012-02-17

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Drug court urged

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A special court to hear drugrelated cases should be established to cope with the growing number of arrests and prosecutions, the chairman of a House committee on antinarcotics and moneylaundering operations proposed yesterday.

Pheu Thai MP Prasert Janthornruangthong said the socalled "drug trial court" would also ease prison overcrowding, shorten drugrelated trials, and speed up court hearings and processes in cases which are slow or unnecessarily delayed due to excessive case loads.

Speaking yesterday after a meeting, he said the panel had agreed that the General Court of Justice was capable of expanding its operations to accommodate drugrelated cases and the drug court could be possible if the police and public prosecution sector considered the proposal.

Police recently arrested two university seniors for allegedly possessing 4,800 amphetamine tablets and 71 grams of ice flakes. Direk Sukhonthasang and Jiraphorn Choorat, were arrested at a Bangkok mall, and have been charged with possessing illegal drugs with intent to sell.

-- The Nation 2012-02-17

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Sek Loso reports to ONCB, vows to stay off drugs

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Rock star Seksan "Sek Loso" Sukpimai, accompanied by his lawyer, reported to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) secretarygeneral Adul Saengsingkaew yesterday after postponing the meeting twice on grounds of undergoing drug rehabilitation.

Admitting that he had been addicted to drugs for the past eight years, Seksan said that while undergoing treatment he realised that he depended more on drugs than he thought. He said he had undergone the initial phase of the treatment and was now allowed to stay at home, though he has to continue with followup treatment for a year.

Vowing to stay off alcohol and drugs, Seksan said he had written several songs while at the rehab centre and would hold a concert in a month to raise funds for the Thanyarak Institute of Drug Abuse. He said he would also be happy to lead antidrug campaigns.

Meanwhile, the ONCB chief encouraged families to encourage drugabusing youngsters to undergo rehabilitation.

-- The Nation 2012-02-17

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13 drug dealers arrested in Soi Ruamchit raid

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police arrested 13 drug traffickers and users at a raid in Soi Ruamchit yesterday and seized marijuana, a fake gun, drugtaking tools and vehicles allegedly used to deliver drugs.

One of the drug dealers caught had marijuana stored under his bed, in a chicken coop as well as on trees.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) Region 8 in Surat Thani is keeping a close eye out for the smuggling of drugs through the ThaiBurmese border in Ranong, especially trade in the new lowgrade yaba identified as SN, which is reportedly being produced in Burma.

ONCB director Chalaisin Phothicharoen said they would strictly enforce law, investigate and gather information. He said they would also patrol the border area and seek cooperation from Laos and Burma. ONCB is also planning to equip checkpoints with better equipment to detect drugs.

-- The Nation 2012-02-17

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Burmese power plant raises Ranong alarm

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15-year free education policy needs review: Thai ombudsman

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Bt15m earmarked for RFID system

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) and the Land Transport Department have earmarked Bt15 million to install radiofrequency identification (RFID) cameras to detect speed violations on Bangkok expressways, Exat governor Aiyarat Thinapai said yesterday.

The Kanchanapisek, Burapavithi and Chalongrat expressways will be equipped with two cameras each, he said. From April 1, the authorities will implement the RFID system and public transport vans are required to have RFID tags, which will cost the owners Bt120 annually. The first phase will cover the Don Muang tollway, expressways and motorways before it is expanded to other roads, he added.

In addition, the punishment for speeding has been increased 10fold from a Bt500 fine to Bt5,000, while repeat offenders will end up having to pay Bt10,000 and will get their licence revoked.

In order to prevent cars from falling off the expressway, Exat has installed flexible fences, with each spot costing Bt700,000. The fencing has been installed at the Phayathai overpass as well as Kanchanapisek, Rama 6, Chalongrat, Ram Inthra and Burapavithi expressways.

The National Health Foundation's Academic Centre for Road Safety reported a 72 per cent increase in van registrations from 3,230 vans in 2006 to 17,970 in 2010.

-- The Nation 2012-02-17

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Lop Buri to get Bt330mn for flood, water control

Chanikarn Phumhirun

Jeerapong Prasertphonkrang

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government will spend Bt330 million on at least 25 projects in Lop Buri this fiscal year to minimise flooding and the risk of watershortages.

Together, the projects will hold 600,000 cubic metres of water.

Last year, the huge amount of runoff water from the upper part of the country overwhelmed available waterways and severe flooding raged across many provinces. By contrast, in the dry season, water shortage was a concern.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been on tour to many provinces this week, as her government explores ways to better manage water issues. She was in Lop Buri yesterday.

Lop Buri Governor Chatchai Promlert briefed Yingluck about the water situation in the provinces and planned projects.

Apart from the 25 projects to be implemented this year, the Water Resources Department will also spend Bt370million on 151 other projects between 2013 and 2016 fiscal years. These projects anticipate a waterholding capacity of 2.65 million cubic metres.

Phichit Governor Suwit Watcharotayangkoon yesterday convened an urgent meeting of district chiefs and representatives from relevant agencies to inform them of budgetary allocations by the Yingluck Cabinet during its ongoing tour.

According to Suwit, the Cabinet approved a Bt187million budget for operations to dredge canals in nine districts. "We have to complete the dredging operation by April," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-02-17

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Mental Patients in Thailand to Be Released from Chains

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High school students Facebook photos ended up on porn site

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